The Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington seeks an experienced teacher, environmental educator, and naturalists to work in a nature day camp setting for a two week period. The Summer Naturalist will work with children up to 13-years-old as they explore the forests, brooks, meadows, and ponds on the Center’s 255 acres. Each week of camp focuses on a different theme and all campers get the chance to search for wildlife, make crafts, go on hikes, play games, and hone their nature awareness skills. The Summer Naturalists will be equally comfortable teaching 0- to 5-year olds at our Free Nature Playgroup as well as 6- to 13-year olds at Ecology Day Camp.
The Summer Naturalist position will fill in for the last week of camp. You will be responsible for teaching one week of summer camp, At Home in a Habitat, working effectively as part of a dynamic camp team in an outdoor setting. You will also help with the break-down and debrief of the summer as well as to help transition to our fall teaching season.
Audubon will challenge you to enhance your teaching and mentoring skills while encouraging you to share the wonder of exploring the most magical places at Audubon.
- Provide a fun, educational experience for children during camp.
- Help maintain the safety and wellbeing of all camp participants.
- Act as a mentor to high school counselors-in-training.
- Write a final evaluation of your camp experience by August 16, 2019.
- Experience developing and leading outdoor activities, as well as working with both preschool-age (3 to 5) and school-age (6 to 13) children.
- Strong group management skills; ability to guide a group of up to 30 campers.
- Love of outdoor exploration and questioning; ability to model curiosity and wonder about the natural world.
- Ability to work well as part of a team.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills.
- Must have reliable transportation.
- Current First Aid and CPR certification.
- Must be able to pass a federal background check.
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated knowledge of Vermont natural history.
- Knowledge of core routines of nature connection (e.g., sit spot, journaling, mapping, bird language).
- Experience with animal tracking, wilderness living, and survival skills (e.g., fire and shelter-making), aquatic ecosystems.
- Singing and storytelling experience, as well as previous summer camp experience.
- Experience making crafts and art from natural materials.